the Blindschleiche (Anguis fragilis)a Echsenart is within the family that creeping (Anguidae). It does not have extremities. The overall length of an adult of animal amounts to maximally 52 cm, usually however 35-45 cm.

Table of contents

occurrence

Blindschleichen are common in completely Europe to find in addition, in North Africa and in the east to west Siberia particularly in damp biotopes and forests. Usually they are under leaves, branches or in the compost hidden. On the day one sees it often at noonwith the sun bath (particularly in spring).

characteristics

head of a Blindschleiche

Contrary to the genuine queues the Blindschleiche can move their lids. The tail of these Echse is capable of the Autotomie, i.e., if an enemy seizes the Blindschleiche, it throws its tail,several being has, off. Also the broken off tail still moves easy and diverts thereby the enemies while the Blindschleiche brings itself in security. Differently than with the lizards, the tail regenerates not again. At the immediately closing wound remains oneselfonly one stub.

Probably the name of the Blindschleiche originates from the old high German, where “Plintslicho” about “dazzling Schleicher” means. The word trunk “dazzle” arises for example also as screen with minerals in the sense of “deceitfully shining”. Actually the sheds of the Blindschleichen under sun exposure have a lead-shiningColouring.

Against the generally spread opinion that the Blindschleiche shows anatomical “remainders” of its origin (shoulder belt, leg beginnings) in its bone stand, this is actually not the case. The front extremities are put on during the Embryonalentwicklung ansatzweise and regress still in the process of the selbigen again. On oneThis Echsenmerkmale would thus not show up radiograph (born) of a Blindschleiche.

food

Reproduction

a male is with three years sex-ripely, female only with 4-5 years. The mating time mostly is in the spring, in Central Europe in April.

The Blindschleichen are ovovivipar, it eggs are produced, from these slip however either already in the adulten animal the descendants orright after the oviposition. They are 7-9 centimeters large with the birth. It does not take place raising of the boys. After the birth of the boys the female Blindschleiche leaves its NIST place. The boys are now left.

hibernation

enemies

Blindschleiche on the road

hedgehog and larger birds as for example crows. Ironically these “wrong queues” become from the genuinelikewise does not defame. The Blindschleichen are endangered also by humans (traffic, biotope loss, killing because of mistake with queues) and stand under protection of species.